The Ontario Student Nutrition Program-Southwest Region’s Goal for the Great Big Crunch
On Thursday, October 20, 2016, schools across Southwestern Ontario will be participating in OSNP-SW’s Great Big Crunch in celebration of Canada’s National Farm to School Month. The Great Big Crunch is a special day of good food education dedicated to locally grown apples ending with a synchronized “crunch” to celebrate.
Great Big Crunch celebrations range from small gatherings in classrooms to whole school congregations in gymnasiums to partake in fun activities such as apple bobbing, making apple-themed crafts and science experiments. Last year 98,875 students across 286 schools gathered to learn more about healthy eating and the availability of local food. This year our goal is to reach 100,000 participants to make it the biggest Great Big Crunch yet!
Happening in the fall at the height of apple season, the Great Big Crunch highlights the availability of local produce to students that showcases the bounty of delicious fruits and vegetables available in our backyards. Last year over $22,000 of local apples were purchased which supported 20 local apple growers and producers across Southwestern Ontario. OSNP-SW supports the farm to school vision by purchasing seasonal produce from local farmers whenever possible. For 3 years, OSNP has run a Farm to School program in Chatham-Kent that offered local fruits and vegetables to 21 schools last year. This year an additional 14 schools in Perth County and Grey County are participating in an 8 week program with more planned expansion happening in 2017.
The Ontario Student Nutrition Program – Southwest Region (OSNP-SW) supports 97,836 students in 489 schools across Southwestern Ontario. Last year OSNP-SW provided 15,776,562 healthy meals and snacks to ensure that all students are well nourished and ready to learn.
Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @OSNPsouthwest!
For more information about OSNP-SW’s Great Big Crunch, please contact Amberley Ruetz at amberley.Ruetz@osnp.ca
For more information about Farm to School Program happening in OSNP-SW please contact Jillian McCallum at jillian.McCallum@von.ca.
Written by Amberley Ruetz, Resource Development Coordinator, The Ontario Student Nutrition Program – Southwest Region
